Nestled between bush-clad hills and the exposed coastline, a unique renovation of this 1930’s weatherboard house reduced four bedrooms down to one, creating an indoor pool and garden cottage for family and guests.

The enforced disjunction created by planning rules requiring separation between the garden cottage, indoor pool and house, became an opportunity to play on the relationship between the three buildings. The plan is re-organised with a new timber joinery box inserted through the central third of the house, creating three interlocking forms. Each building’s individuality is retained, while a tailored palette of materials, screens and planting used in the interstitial spaces, braids together the whole.

Design of the interior spaces takes into consideration their relation to the multifarious spaces outside. Views from the upstairs library extend over the hills to the east. The house overlooks a mature canopy of pohutukawa – the summer blossom engages in playful dialogue with a crimson glass insert in the upstairs window joinery. The lower deck is encircled by timber panelling, which provides shelter from onshore winds whilst framing the expansive harbour view.

Casual living spaces incorporate the harbour view to the west, with generous shelving and upholstered window seats creating a tranquil abode to relax, contemplate, and reflect out over the ease of the ocean towards the city lights beyond.